The best timesheet software in Australia (2026)

Choosing the right timesheet software in Australia can feel like a full-time job in itself. Search for "timesheet app" or "time and attendance software" and you'll find everything from simple clock-in apps to full workforce management platforms that handle rosters, HR and payroll.

This guide cuts through that noise.

We'll look at six of the most widely used timesheeet software options Australian businesses are using in 2026, what each platform does well, and where the trade-offs are, particularly around award compliance, payroll integration, clocking options and multi-site workforces. 

The focus here is on Australian employers who pay staff by the hour or by shift and need:

• Accurate online timesheets
• Reliable time and attendance
• Clean, auditable data flowing into payroll and STP
• Systems designed for real-world shift work, not just office time tracking

What we mean by "timesheet software" in this guide

For this guide, timesheet software / time and attendance software refers to systems that can:

• Capture start and finish times (including breaks).
• Automatically generate online timesheets.
• Feed into payroll or award interpretation.
• Support real shift work environments.

Where relevant, we'll also highlight whether a system includes:

• Rostering / employee scheduling.
• Mobile apps with GPS or geofencing.
• Time clock hardware (kiosk, biometric, facial recognition).
• Integrated HR or payroll.

What we looked at when comparing timesheet software

Almost every Australian business evaluating timesheet software will prioritise some version of the following:

• Australian compliance: Does the system understand Modern Awards, EBAs and Fair Work expectations?
• Ease of use: Is clocking in and out simple? Are online timesheets easy to review and approve?
• Payroll integration: Can approved timesheets flow directly into payroll without rekeying hours?
• Clocking options: Does the platform support mobile apps, browser clocking, kiosks or biometric devices?
• Scalability: Does it work for a small café with 10 staff or a multi-site operation, without costs increasing dramatically as the team grows?

Quick comparison: timesheets software at a glance

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1. Microkeeper - Best unified timesheet software for Australian payroll and HR

Best for: Australian businesses that want rosters, timesheets, HR and payroll working together in one system.  

Where it fits

Microkeeper is an Australian-built workforce management system designed specifically for businesses paying staff under Modern Awards, EBAs and complex shift structures. 

It combines:

• Time and attendance (app, web and hardware clocking)
• Online timesheets
• Employee rostering
• HR records and onboarding
• STP-enabled payroll and super processing

Employees clock in and out using the mobile app, web browser, or dedicated time clock hardware, including fingerprint, NFC and facial recognition devices. Those clockings generate digital timesheets, which flow directly into payroll with the relevant award rules applied.

Pricing

Microkeeper charges per active employee per month, with pricing starting from $6 (user/month) tailored to your mix of modules and headcount.

Pros

• Built specifically for Australian awards, EBAs and STP. 
• Handles HR -> Rosters -> Clockings -> Timesheets -> Payroll, in one place.
• Supports biometric and face-scan time clocks plus mobile and web. 
• Local Geelong-based support team, phone + ticket.
• Strong fit for hospitality, retail, manufacturing, clubs, agriculture, construction and multi-site businesses. 

Cons

Because it's a full platform, Microkeeper makes the most sense when you’re ready to bring HR, rosters and payroll, rather than using a simple standalone time tracker. 

Good fit if

You want rosters + timesheets + payroll to work together for Australian awards, and you prefer one unified platform instead of stitching together separate apps. 

2. Deputy - Popular rostering + timesheet app for shift work

Best for: Hospitality, retail and service businesses that want a popular rostering and time & attendance app.

Deputy is one of the most recognised workforce management tools in Australia. It combines employee scheduling with time and attendance, allowing staff to clock in/out using a mobile device or kiosk. 

Key features

• Employee scheduling, availability and shift swapping.
• Mobile apps and iPad kiosks for clocking in/out.
• Real-time attendance monitoring. 
• Basic award interpretation and payroll exports.
• Integrations with Xero, MYOB, cloud payroll and POS.

Pricing

Deputy’s monthly plans in Australia start at $7.50 per user per month for basic scheduling or time & attendance modules, with more complete “Core” or “Pro” plans close to $9.75 and $14.50 per user per month depending on your billing cycle. 

Pros

• Strong rostering UX for front-line managers.
• Good for multi-site hospitality and retail.
• Widely supported in the Australian ecosystem. 

Cons

Award interpretation is available but generally less configurable than full payroll platforms designed specifically for Australian awards.

Good fit if

Deputy is an ideal solution for businesses that rely on shift-based work, hourly employees or have fluctuating staffing needs. 

3. Tanda - Best for award-heavy hourly workforces

Best for: Larger shift-based workforces with complex award requirements.

Tanda is another Australian workforce platform focused heavily on award interpretation and labour compliance.

It combines rostering, time tracking and payroll with tools designed to manage overtime rules, fatigue limits and labour costs. 

Key features

• Award-compliant rostering with costed rosters.
• Timesheets generated from clockings (mobile or kiosk).
• Fatigue management, overtime and break rules.
• Modules for onboarding, leave and payroll.
• Integrations with a range of POS systems. 

Pros

• Strong award compliance features.
• Costed rostering and labour insights.
• Good for large, multi-site hourly teams.

Cons

Pricing and implementation can be heavier than smaller systems, and the platform may be more complex than needed for small operators. 

Pricing

Tanda offers workforce management software with timesheets, rostering, and compliance generally starting from $12 per user per month. Additional features such as payroll are charged on top as add-ons. 

Good fit if

You manage a large workforce under multiple awards or EBAs and need deep compliance functionality. 

4. Clockify - Best Timesheet Software for Remote Teams

Best for: Remote teams, freelancers and project-based work. 

Clockify is a global time tracking tool widely used by remote teams and professional services firms.

Unlike workforce management platforms designed for shift work, Clockify focuses primarily on project time tracking and productivity reporting. 

Key features

• Browser, desktop and mobile time tracking.
• Project and task-based time logging.
• Timesheet approvals and reporting.
• Team dashboards and productivity insights.
• Integrations with project management tools like Asana, Trello and Jira.

Pros

• Simple and easy to use.
• Free entry-level plan.
• Works well for remote teams or freelancers.
• Project-based reporting.

Cons

Clockify is not designed specifically for Australian payroll or award interpretation, so businesses with shift workers or award obligations may need additional systems. 

Pricing

Clockify offers a free plan with unlimited users, making it a popular starting point for small teams. Paid plans start at $3.99 per user per month (billed annually), with higher tiers adding features like timesheet approvals, scheduling and budgeting tools.

Good fit if

Your team tracks billable hours or project time, rather than rostered shifts. 

5. Payroller - Simple Timesheets with Payroll

Best for: Small Australian businesses wanting basic payroll and timesheet functionality. 

Payroller combines payroll processing with simple time tracking tools aimed at small businesses.

It’s commonly used by businesses that want basic payroll compliance with minimal setup.

Pros

• Simple payroll system
• STP reporting included
• Straightforward timesheet functionality

Cons

Limited workforce management features compared with larger platforms. Rostering and advanced compliance tools are relatively basic.

Pricing

Payroller starts at $2.99 per employee per month (billed annually), with a minimum spend of $11.99 per month. Timesheets and rosters are available as an add-on to the base payroll plan.

Good fit if

You’re a small business running simple payroll with limited rostering complexity. 

6. Aussie Time Sheets - Best for Time Clock Hardware

Best for: Businesses whose main need is accurate clock-in hardware and time attendance tracking. 

Aussie Time Sheets focuses heavily on time clocks and attendance systems, from traditional bundy clocks to biometric and facial recognition devices. 

Key features

• Fingerprint and face-scan time clocks
• Cloud time and attendance software
• Online timesheets generated from clockings
• Payroll exports

Pros

• Strong range of hardware clocking options
• Designed for Australian businesses
• Reliable for industrial environments like warehouses and factories

Cons

The platform focuses primarily on time attendance, rather than full HR or payroll workflows. 

Pricing

Aussie Time Sheets Workforce TNA starts from $50 per month for the cloud software subscription. Pricing is licensed per 100 employee profiles, with hardware costs for time clocks priced separately depending on the devices required.

Good fit it

Your priority is accurate physical clock-in systems rather than a full workforce platform.

How to choose the right timesheet software for your business

Before comparing vendors, it helps to be clear on a few basics.

How does your team actually work?

1. Mostly hourly and rostered (hospo, retail, clubs, health, manufacturing)?
2. Mix of casual and salaried staff across multiple locations?
3. Field or remote work where mobile clocking is essential?

If you’re running rosters and awards, you’ll usually get better results from an integrated workforce platform than from a standalone project time tracker.

What level of award interpretation do you need?

If you’re under Modern Awards or EBAs, look for:

2. Configurable penalties, overtime and allowances. 
3. Clear audit trails for how each hour is classified.
4. A track record of staying aligned with Fair Work and ATO changes.

This is where Australian platforms like Microkeeper, Tanda, Deputy and Roubler are normally stronger than generic global tools.

How do you want staff to clock in?

Think about whether you need:

3. Mobile app with GPS/geofencing.
4. Kiosk at each site.
5. Dedicated biometric or face-scan time clocks.
6. Web clocking for office staff.

Many businesses end up with a mix, for example, biometric clocks at warehouses and mobile clocking for supervisors on the road. 

Standalone Timesheets vs Workforce Platforms

Standalone timesheet apps work well when:

• You track billable project hours.
• Payroll is already handled elsewhere.

However, businesses with shift workers and award obligations often benefit from an integrated workforce platform because it:

• Reduces manual data entry.
• Minimises payroll errors.
• Improves compliance visibility.
• Simplifies reporting and audits.

Where Microkeeper fits in

Microkeeper sits firmly in the all-in-one Australian workforce platform bucket:

• Built and supported locally, with Australian awards and STP at the core.
• Designed around the full flow from roster -> timesheet -> payroll.
• Strong support for the time clock hardware, mobile and web clocking.
• HR onboarding, documents, skills and compliance in the same system.

If you’re comparing timesheet software for 2026, a practical next step is:

1. Shortlist 3-4 tools that genuinely support Australian awards and STP.
2. Confirm they offer the clocking methods your workforce actually needs. 
3. Run a short trial period with real rosters and timesheets.

That way you’re not just comparing a feature list, you’re seeing how each system handles the messy, real-world part: turning hours worked into accurate, compliant pays every single cycle. 

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